"What were you two doing out there so long?" Remus asked James after he was sure Sirius was asleep.
"We just got a little lost is all," James explained honestly. "Now I am tired. Leave me alone." James rolled over on his side.
"Ok, sorry," Remus apologized.
It was Christmas morning and Ginny felt awful. It was the second time Ginny had woken up feeling miserable, here in 1977. She groaned and pulled a pillow over her head. She got up to take a shower. After her shower she walked down the spiral staircase. There was a tree decorated with ornaments, and underneath it were a few gifts. Sirius, Remus, and James were already there. Remus was standing looking into the fire. James sat in an armchair with his arms crossed. And Sirius sat on a couch looking up at the ceiling.
"Sweet pea!" Sirius said as she came down the stairs. Ginny gave him a weak smile. He knelt down to the tree and picked up a box. "This is for you," he handed her the box. It was wrapped tightly.
"Thank you," she said. She carefully unwrapped the box. She opened it and inside was some Fizzing Whizbees and Dung Bombs. Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Um, thanks," she said, "That is really sweet of you."
"I know," he said coming over to her. She moved quickly away from him.
"Uh Sirius, we need to talk," Ginny said holding her breath.
"About what Whinny?"
Better talk quickly, Ginny thought. "Er... Well... Idunthinkshouldtogethermore," Ginny said, a little too fast.James looked up at her, with hope in his eyes, as if he had understood her. "What?" all three boys said together.
Ginny swallowed. "I don't think we should be together anymore," she said simply.
Sirius blinked. James jaw dropped. Remus swallowed.
"Oh," Sirius said, trying to sound disappointed. "Darn it." Now he had to win over Lily's heart like he had done before.
By being himself."You're not mad?" Ginny asked.
"Mmm. Not really." She couldn't believe what she had heard. Sirius had been so... So... Clingy. And now he just stopped as if he had never really liked her. Like he wanted to add one more name to his long list of girls. Ginny looked hopefully at James, who just turned away.
Getting the hint, Remus said, "Come on Sirius. Let's go eat." Sirius got up happily and followed Remus out of the common room.
"I knew it," James muttered as soon as they had left.
"Knew what?" Ginny asked confused.
"He never really liked you," James said.
"Did he really say that?"
"Well, no but it was--" James began.
"Well it was what, James? You think that no guy could ever like me?" Ginny said angrily. "You think I am just completely unbearable?" Ginny was hurt. How could James make an assumption like that? He barely even knew her. Maybe Sirius had liked her. Even if it was just for a few hours.
James sat there staring at the wall. Sirius hadn't liked her. He knew that. Nobody needed to tell him. It was completely obvious. Whinny must have been blind if she couldn't see it. Sirius had acted so fake around her. James had thought he had liked Whinny, but he soon put the pieces together, and realized, she just wasn't the girl he thought she was. "Yeah," James started, "I bet no guy could ever like you." After seeing Whinny's face he had to repeat what he had said in his mind. Did he really just say that? He had never lashed out at anyone like that.
Ginny glared at him. "Well I bet I could." James smiled on the inside. Whinny was so cute when she was mad. No. What am I saying? She is wrong for me. She is wrong for me, he told himself over again.
"Ok, then," James said, a plan forming in his head. "How about, I choose the guy, and you have to make him like you. If you win, I'll pay you 50 galleons. But if I win you have to go out with me." James's smile grew wider in the inside of his body. If Whinny agreed, he already had the perfect man for her. His heart was as cold as ice.
"Fine," she said still glaring. "I'll do it." She extended her hand to shake. James took it in his.
"Ok, then. Want to know who the lucky man is?" he asked her. She nodded, still glaring. "Severus Snape."
Ginny's face dropped. Severus Snape?
"S-Serverus S-Snape?" She stuttered. That would be disgusting. Trying to make your future potions teacher like you. She shuddered.
"Uh-huh," James nodded. She could never get Snape to fall in love with her. He had feelings for nothing. Except maybe the Defense Against the Dark Arts. He had this in the bag.
At breakfast Ginny glanced at the Slytherin table, which she had ignored for a while. She saw Malfoy sitting with his arm around a girl. She suspected it to be Draco's mom. Crabbe and Goyle were sitting near Malfoy stuffing their faces. She saw Snape sitting a little bit farther staring at Malfoy with his arm around that girl. Snape looked the same with the same greasy hair, and piercing eyes. She swallowed.
James watched Whinny and smiled. She was carefully eyeing the Slytherin table. When Snape made his way out of the castle, Whinny timed it perfectly. He watched them until the two were gone. He laughed a small laugh and started back on his eggs.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. J.K. Rowling owns the characters, and I did not make up the plot. It's been done like a thousand times before.
A/N: Haha. Thank you so much reviewers. I love you all. Thanks to: Kyra Invictus Black ( ), flying-piggy-123, xOxOcherrychicaxOxO, Me221, aimee ( ), Jo Girl ( ), Stacy ( ), Loony Lovegood1, Queen Cari, Fiona Opal, Katie Harmlen ( ), HarryGryffinGirl ( ), Capitan Oblivious, and babyjayy. Thank you all!